Monsters Are Coming-Chapter 917 - 257: Core Demands

[Great Demon Wilderness.]

Four large characters passed before Jiang Cheng's eyes.

Opening the map reveals this is an area never explored before; on the map, aside from their location,

other regions are shrouded in mist.

In the distance is an endlessly vast desert, with a snowfield stretching behind.

From here, the snow layer on the ground becomes thin, exposing the gray-brown permafrost beneath.

The wind remains cold, but no longer carries dense snowflakes; instead, a few solitary ice particles drift, disappearing before touching the ground.

As they proceed further, the ground is exposed with gravel and rubble, and the snowflakes vanish.

The environment here is harsh; the land is parched by the sun, and between the cracks, clusters of dry yellow stiff grass tremble in the wind.

The chill in the air persists, yet it carries a trace of heat.

Continuing a distance further, the wind here rolls up fine sand, carrying waves of heat.

The environmental changes are not gradual as they should be, as if passing through an air wall in a game, suddenly arriving in another world.

Jiang Cheng felt quite puzzled by this.

Monster World pursues realism, theoretically, each area's environmental changes should gradually transition through scenes.

Curious, he asked for Guidance, and the explanation received was.

Monster World's territories are pieced together with different nodes as the core, much like a colossal world puzzle, containing numerous lands inserted by descending forces.

This also results in Monster World's various regions having completely different environmental and climate displays.

From the explanation, Jiang Cheng's understanding is: game setting.

"Overlord Sword, where is the Blood Storage Cauldron you mentioned?" Xia Sheng beside him spoke up at this moment.

"At the end of the desert, it's still a distance away."

When saying this, Overlord Sword's heart dripped with blood.

It is now exhausted, without the capacity for independent action.

Although it was quite satisfied with this host's condition, it couldn't produce any Energy; it was unclear where the problem lied.

The only option is to go to the resource library and directly consume the reserve Qi Blood Energy.

This resource library left by the previous host, became an energy transfer station after the host's death.

Before reaching its complete form, the Divine Artifact Rule characteristics restrict it to fully unleash its Strength only when held by a host.

Without a host, its Strength is greatly suppressed.

Thus, it needs to continuously change hosts.

This is the double-edged sword of Rule; to acquire Rule Power, one must act according to the operational logic of the Rule.

It is said top-tier Rules have no constraints, but at least it hasn't seen any firsthand.

This trip to the resource library forebodes that everything inside will be taken out and used.

It doesn't care about those worthless things.

The only heartache is the Strength earned by the previous host, nearly all consumed on this host.

It only hopes for rich returns later, allowing it to indulge in a feast of negative emotions.

During the journey, Overlord Sword also pondered a question.

Exactly where went wrong, causing its body to be unable to intake Qi Blood Energy, or even unable to absorb negative emotional Energy.

Before this, such an incident had never occurred.

If the cause cannot be found, the only option might be to return to clan land and seek aid from elders within the clan.

After another half day of hurried travel, until sunset dusk, Jiang Cheng and Xia Sheng, following Overlord Sword's Guidance, arrived at their destination.

In the distance, a square structure built from Black Stone stood abruptly amid the dunes.

Upon closer view, the outer wall corroded by wind and sand was filled with honeycomb-like holes, making a wailing-like sound amidst the sandstorm.

Judging from the exterior, there's no distinguishing feature.

More like a desolate ruin left by some tribe prior to migration.

Upon approaching, placed at the entrance of the building is a statue of a headless warrior holding a sword.

The sword in its hand is identical in shape to Overlord Sword.

"This is the place; insert me into the hole in front of the door," Jiang Cheng heard, did not hesitate, and summoned Overlord Sword to his Right Hand.

Gripping the sword hilt, he inserted the sword blade into the groove in the center of the stone door, immediately an internal rumble resembling gears turning echoed.

The heavy Black Stone door slowly sank, raising a yellow sand mist.

Behind the door was a stairway leading downward, pitch black inside without an end in sight.

Drawing Overlord Sword to carry on his back, Jiang Cheng took the lead in stepping in, Xia Sheng immediately followed.

This passage was akin to the esophagus of some giant beast, the air carrying the stale scent of blood mingled with oxidized Metal breath.

At the stairway's end, an indistinctly visible dark red halo appeared, like a solidified blood mist suspended in Darkness.

As they continued downward, the bronze lamps hanging around the stone walls gradually ignited.

Under the illumination of the firelight, countless engravings emerged densely on the walls.

With Decomposition auto-translation, the information described by the text was clear at a glance.

[Pain equates to Strength, I relish it.]

The first text coming into view, repeatedly inscribed seven times on the passage rock wall.

The edges of the handwriting condense with black blood scabs, the last stroke trailing a long hook, as if the sword holder still endures some agony at the final moment while writing.

Continuing down.

[What of flaying and dissection? I only crave Strength!]

[Physical pain pales compared to a fraction of the hatred in my heart.]

Below the handwriting remain five clear fingerprints, the rock clawed into fissures, fragments of broken nails wedged between the cracks.

At the corner of the passage, written in fresh blood:

[Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!]